“I Remember”: how to record and preserve the memories of WWII veterans - a step-by-step guide

Every year on May 9, we honor the memory of those who defended the freedom of our country during the Great Patriotic War. But every year there are fewer and fewer veterans, and with them the living voices of history are leaving - those details, emotions and nuances that are not in textbooks. Phrase "I remember" for them, not just words, but the key to events that shaped the destinies of millions. How to preserve these memories so that they do not disappear along with the generation of winners?

This article is not just instructions, but bridge between past and future. Here you will find practical interview recording techniques, tips for digitizing archives, legal aspects of using materials, and even technical tricks for restoring old audio recordings. We will look at how to avoid common mistakes (for example, loss of context due to incorrectly asked questions) and what tools will help make veterans' stories accessible to new generations - from school museums to online archives.

Why is it important to record veterans' memories now?

According to Rosstat, as of May 2026, there are less than 700 thousand WWII veterans - this is 10 times less than 20 years ago. About 300 people leave every day, taking with them unique stories. That's why now is the last chance record their experience:

• 📜 Personal view of history: Official chronicles are often silent about everyday details - how the soldiers warmed themselves in the trenches, what they ate, what they thought about before the battle. These nuances make the story come alive.
• 🧠 Psychological value: For many veterans, talking about the war is a way to cope with trauma. Research shows that art therapy (including oral histories) reduces stress levels in older adults.
• 🎓 Educational resource: 68% of Russian schoolchildren, according to surveys VTsIOM, remember history better through personal stories rather than through dates in textbooks.
• 🔍 Historical reconstruction: Details from memories help restore the real picture of the battles. For example, thanks to the stories of veterans, the route was clarified "Roads of Life" near Leningrad.

But there is also a downside: not all memories are reliable. Memory becomes distorted over the years, and traumatic events may be perceived in fragments. Therefore, it is important not only to write down, but also double-check facts through archives and documents.

Preparing for an interview: 7 steps to get a veteran to agree to talk

Many veterans are reluctant to share memories - especially about difficult moments. The first interview should be short (15–20 minutes) and take place in a comfortable environment. Here's how to prepare:

1. Make contact early. Don't come unexpectedly! It is better to negotiate through relatives or social workers. Example phrase: “My grandfather also fought in 1st Guards Army. It’s very important for me to hear your story so I can pass it on to my children.”.
2. Choose the right time. Morning is optimal: veterans are often tired in the evening. Avoid days when war films are broadcast - this can cause negative emotions.
3. Prepare “memory triggers”. Take with you:
   • 📷 Old photos (for example, from Victory Parade 1945)
   • 🎖️Copies of awards (order "Red Banner", medal "For courage")
   • 🎵 Wartime songs ("Katyusha", "Holy War")

⚠️ Attention: Never start with a question "Tell me about the war" - that's too broad. Better ask about a specific episode: "How did you get into 28th Army?» or “What do you remember about your first fight?”.

A spare voice recorder is connected|The batteries in the camera are charged|“memory triggers” are prepared (photos, awards)|A time and place have been agreed upon|There is a notepad for notes (in case of equipment failure)-->

Technical equipment: what is needed for high-quality recording

Even the most valuable story will be lost if it is recorded on a phone in a noisy room. Here minimum set of equipment to capture memories:

Equipment	Model/example	Why is it necessary?	Budget (₽)
Voice recorder	Zoom H1n, Sony ICD-UX570	Clear sound without noise, ability to connect an external microphone	5 000–12 000
Lavalier microphone	Boya BY-M1	Captures a veteran's voice while ignoring background sounds	1 500–3 000
Camera	Canon EOS M50 (or a smartphone with a good camera)	Recording facial expressions, gestures, awards	30 000–50 000
Phone tripod	UBeesize 50"	Stable video without hand shake	1 000–2 500

⚠️ Attention: If the veteran has difficulty hearing, use directional microphone (For example, Rode VideoMic) and place it at a distance of 20–30 cm from the mouth. Avoid recording in rooms with echoes (large halls, empty rooms).

Installation advice: Program Audacity (free) will help remove noise and normalize the volume. Suitable for video OpenShot or CapCut.

How to conduct an interview: questions that are not in the archives

A common mistake is to only ask about fights. Actually the most valuable parts hidden in everyday moments. Here 15 non-standard questionswhich are rarely asked:

• 🍞 “What did you eat in the trenches? How was the food prepared? (Many veterans remember the taste "American stew" or "crumbs and salt".)
• 🎻 “What kind of music or songs were sung at rest stops?” (Often these were not official marches, but folk tunes.)
• 📬 “Did you write letters home? What was in them? (Censorship prohibited mentioning locations, but veterans remember the “encryptions” - for example, the phrase "I'm fine" meant "I'm wounded.")
• 👢 “How did you save your shoes from rotting in the trenches?” (Some smeared the pistons of their boots birch tar.)
• 🩹 “How were wounds treated in the field?” (Used sphagnum moss instead of cotton wool, and iodine was replaced vodka with salt.)

⚠️ Attention: If the veteran begins to cry or refuses to continue— don't insist. Offer to take a break or reschedule the conversation. Trauma can manifest itself even after 80 years.

What to do if a veteran gets the dates wrong?

Don't interrupt or correct as you go. Write down the story in full, and then check the facts with the archives (for example, through the portal "Memory of the People" or "Feat of the people"). In the comments to the post please indicate: “According to archival data, the 3rd Belorussian Front liberated Koenigsberg in April 1945, but the veteran remembers it as January”.

Digitization and Preservation: How to Preserve Records for Decades

Paper diaries turn yellow, film deteriorates, and digital media becomes obsolete. To prevent memories from being lost, you need create multiple copies in different formats:

1. Audio/video:
   • 💾 Save originals in .WAV (audio) or .MOV (video) - they do not compress and do not lose quality.
   • 📁 Upload copies to the clouds: Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or specialized archives (for example, "Oral History" from the Russian State University for the Humanities).
2. Text transcripts:
   • 📝 Use services like Otter.ai for automatic decryption (accuracy ~80%).
   • 🔍 Complete the text with tags: [05:23 - story about the storming of Berlin].
3. Physical media:
   • 💿 Sign up for M-Disc DVD (1000 year guarantee) or gold Verbatim Blu-Ray.
   • 📦 Store in archive boxes with silica gel (absorbs moisture).

Critical error: Don't rely only on flash drives or external hard drives — they fail after 5–10 years. Be sure to create three copies (one is with you, the second is with relatives, the third is in the cloud).

Legal aspects: is it possible to publish memoirs?

Even if you recorded the story with the veteran's consent, publication may violate the law. Here are the key points:

• 📄 Consent to data processing: Sign a document with the veteran (or his heirs) authorizing the use of the recording. The sample can be downloaded from the website Roskomnadzor.
• 🎭 Right to image: If you shoot on video, you need separate consent to publish the image (Article 152.1 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation).
• 🔒 State secrets: Some details (eg exact coordinates of military installations) can be classified even decades later. Check through the archives of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
• 💰 Copyright: If you are editing a video with music (for example, "Victory Day"), the rights to the soundtrack are needed. Free alternatives: Musopen or Free Music Archive.

⚠️ Attention: If a veteran dies, the rights to his story pass to his heirs. Publish materials without their consent it's impossible - even if the recording was made a long time ago.

How to make memories accessible: from family archives to museums

Recorded stories should not gather dust on a shelf. Here 5 ways to share them:

• 🏠 Family archive: Create interactive map (via Google My Maps) with marks where the veteran fought. Attach audio clips to each location.
• 🎓 School lessons: Invite your history teacher to use the recording as lesson material. Format: 10-minute video + discussion.
• 🏛️ Museums and archives:
  • Send copies to Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War (Moscow).
  • Digitize materials for the project "Eternal memory" (free).
• 🌍 Online platforms:
  • Download to YouTube with hashtag #IRememberVeterans.
  • Create a page on "Open Archive" (openarch.ru).
• 📖 Book or blog: Publish a brochure in liters or blog on Telegram (example: channel "Voices of War").

Example of a successful project: In 2023, students from school No. 1243 (Moscow) created virtual museum based on the memories of his great-grandfather, a veteran Battle of Kursk. The project won a grant "Memory of Generations" for 500,000 ₽.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to record a veteran on the phone, or is professional equipment required?

It's possible, but only if it's backup. Smartphones are bad at recording quiet voices and picking up noise. For basic recording, use an external microphone (e.g. Lavalier GO from Rode, ~6 000 ₽).

How to convince a veteran to talk about the war if he refuses?

Don't push! Start with neutral topics:

• 🏡 “Tell me, where did you live before the war?”
• 👨‍👩‍👧 “How did you meet your wife?”
• 🎣 “What did you do in your free time at the front?”

Often these questions naturally lead to war memories.

What to do if the recording is damaged (noise, breaks)?

Try restoring sound via:

• Audacity (filter "Noise reduction")
• Adobe Podcast Enhance (free online tool)
• Contact a recording studio - some restore old recordings for 3,000–10,000 rubles.

If all else fails, do it text transcript by fragments.

Is it possible to sell recordings of veterans' memories?

Technically yes, but ethically controversial. If the veteran is alive, his written consent is required. If he died - permission of the heirs. Alternative: free publication with the possibility of donating to charity (for example, a foundation "Memory of Generations").

How to save records if there is no money for professional equipment?

Minimum budget set:

• 📱 Smartphone (for example, Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 with a good microphone).
• 🎤 Headphones with microphone (included with the phone).
• 📄 Notepad for notes.
• 💾 Free cloud (Mail.ru Cloud gives 8 GB).

The main thing is quiet room And careful questions.